LEARNING / WORKSHOPS
I offer workshops where I share the knowledge and experience from my now 30 years of professional practice as a carpenter, designer, and restorer.
The focus is on getting to know the basic hand tools and working techniques in furniture making, understanding their application, and practicing them.
The result should be a handcrafted and useful piece of furniture, which can be a stool, a side table or a small coat rack.
The planning is tailored to your prior knowledge and ideas. A typical workshop spans 2 days, with costs depending on the time required and materials used.
These workshops are open to people of all ages and levels of craftsmanship experience.
Get to the list of currently offered courses here.
CRAFTING FURNITURE BY HAND
In making handcrafted furniture from solid wood, post-industrial methods and tools are rarely relevant. Essentially, this process operates without compromises, rooted in a 3500-year-old woodworking tradition. Mastery of the necessary skills for making such pieces is essential.
As seen in restoration work, the quality of antique, handcrafted furniture is remarkable and unmatched by contemporary machine-made pieces. Old furniture often lasts centuries and can still be refurbished and reused.
Solid execution, careful planning, and decent style beyond extroverted design are the pillars of traditional woodworking.
A more conscious approach to natural resources than this — short of complete abstinence — is hard to imagine. This method is a value in itself. It involves respect for wood as a material and careful craftsmanship in its processing. The unique sensitivity to the material that develops over time through this process is almost irreplaceable.
There is much to be said for familiarizing yourself with the methods and tools that enable you to take the initiative yourself. Take the first step.
WORKSHOPS
The courses are designed as one-day workshops or two-day weekend events.
To ensure thorough content delivery and individual attention, group size is ideally 2, maximum 3 participants.
One-day courses, suitable for companies, school classes, and children's groups, can accommodate 6-10 participants.
In the workshop, your focus is on the key topics. Thus, you decide beforehand what furniture you will make. The wood will be pre-cut at the start of the workshop.
If you have specific ideas regarding the project and course duration, or if you prefer working solo with my full attention, feel free to approach me.
VOICES
Markus' passion for woodworking was catching from the start. His extensive knowledge made the course both highly insightful and engaging. This workshop is an absolute essential for anyone wishing to improve their woodworking skills and create their own furniture.
Marco (Model Carpenter), Workshop on WOOD JOINERYThe kids were so proud of their birdhouses, and for me, it was a really nice, interesting day!
Judith (Educator), Workshop on WOOD AND CRAFTSMANSHIPMy son was thrilled and proud of his bowl. The best part for me: he used to think carpentry was an old-fashioned job, but now he's excited about all the possibilities. That's how it should be.
Jörg (Psychologist), Workshop on WOOD AND CRAFTSMANSHIPUsually, one hesitates to tackle old furniture. Since the course, I feel comfortable with it. The basic knowledge about surfaces, glues, and repair options gives me the confidence to do the right thing.
Katharina (Engineer), Workshop on FURNITURE RESTORATIONFrom the course preparation, design of the furniture piece, theoretical basics, knowledge about wood, necessary tools, answering all questions, problem-solving with the project when something didn't go as planned, to the relaxed atmosphere over these two days, everything was great. I can fully recommend this course to anyone seriously interested in the subject.
Franz (IT Expert), Workshop on WOOD JOINERY